Sliding door operating and latching device



June 22, 1943. H. c. LANCTOT 2,322,457

S LIDING DOOR OPERATING AND LATCHING DEVICE Filed July 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 22, 1943. H. c. LANCTOT 2,322,457

SLIDING DCOR O PERATING AND LATCHING DEVICE Filed July, 28, 1941 ZShBetS-Sheet 2 g t! 16 k 1 1.7022267 632422 caaf INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 22, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIDING DOOR OPERATING AND LATCHING DEVICE This invention relates to sliding door operating and latching devices, and its general object is to provide a device of that character which is primarily designed for freight car doors and the like, to mak it possible to easily and expeditiously open and close the door, under all conditions, and by one person, without damaging the door, thus overcoming many difiiculties now experienced, especially in endeavoring to open the door, as well as eliminating the use of tools for that purpose, such as crowbars, sledge hammers or the like which are now used and result in many instances in damaging the door to an extent that it is rendered useless.

A further object is to provide an operating and latching device for a sliding door that not only materially facilitates opening and closing the door, but will hold the door in either an open or closed position, against casual movement or displacement, as well as makes it possible to readily latch and seal' the same.

Another object is to provide a device of the character set forth, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, can be easily installed on freight cars now in general use, with no material change thereto, and is extremely efficient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view illustrating my device installed on a freight car, with the door closed, latched and sealed.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the door in completely open position and held by the device accordingly.

Figure 3 is a similar view, illustrating the use of my device in closing the door.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the door closing and latching mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 5--5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 illustrates the closing lever, attaching plate therefor and the latch arm.

Figure '7 is a perspective View of the draw chain container that has certain parts of the latching mechanism secured thereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that I have illustrated my device as being installed on a freight car A for operating the sliding door B thereof to open and closed position, as well as for latching the same in closed position, but it will be understood that the device can be usedon sliding doors other than those for freight cars. In any event, the door shown has its lower end slidably mounted in the usual guide member C, and hangers D are secured to the upper end of the door for travel on the track E.

The device includes a pair of containers l and 2 fixed to the side wall of the car upon opposite sides of the door opening, in opposed relation to each other, the container I being disposed in close proximity to one side edge of the opening and acts as an abutment to limit movement of the door to closed position, as shown in Figure 1, while the container 2 is disposed a considerable distance from the opposite side edge of the opening for disposal in the path of the door to act as an abutment therefor, to limit its movement to open position, as shown in Figure 2. l

The containers which provide housings for draw chains 3 and 4, are of upright substantially rectangular formation and each is provided with inclined upper and lower ends, the upper end being open, but is closed by a hinged lid 5, and the bottom wall is provided with a drain opening 6 at its lower end, to allow for free drainage of water from the container, as will be apparent. The chain 3 has one end link connected within the housing I adjacent to the upper end thereof, by an eye member I, while one end link of the chain 4 is connected within the container 2, in the same manner, and the remaining portions of the chains are free, for a purpose which will be later described.

Cooperating with the chains 3 and 4 for opening and closing the door are operating levers B and 9, each being identical and includes a straight relatively long handle portion [0, and a short shank portion II, the latter being disposed at an angle to the handle portion, as best shown in Figure 6. The shank portion tapers inwardly from its juncture with the handle portion and is provided with a rounded recess l2 adjacent its outer end to provide a hook for passage through a chain link, for the latter to be seated in the recess, as best shown in Figure 4, and the handle portion is likewise provided with a recess l3 at its outer or lower end, to provide a convenient hand grip.

The levers are pivotally associated with respect to the door for disposal in opposed relation to each other adjacent the side edges of the door and each lever is provided with a wear plate [4 formed with a lug l5 extending from one side thereof, and the wear plates are fixed to the door by bolt and nut connections I 6. Pivot bolts l1 and I8 are provided for the levers and extend through the door and the wear plates, the levers being mounted on the pivot bolts for swinging movement at the juncture of the handle and shank portions, and in a manner so that the shank portions are inclined toward each other when the levers are in normal position, as shown in Figure 1.

The pivot bolt I! for the lever B is longer than that of the bolt for the lever 9, and pivotally mounted on the bolt I1 is a latch arm I!) provided with a bearing collar 20 for that purpose, as best shown in Figure 6. The free end portion of the arm [9 is disposed at a right angle to the remaining portion thereof to provide a lug 2|, and the arm is receivable in a right angle keeper 22 in a manner so that the lug engageswith the outer side of the keeper body for holding the door in closed position. The keeper is fixed to the outer wall of the container I, and pivotally connected to the latter container for disposal in a normal depending position, is a stop member 23 bent at a right angle to provide an outwardly directed ear 24 at its free end, to overlie the keeper to prevent casual removal of the latch arm therefrom, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 4. The keeper body is provided with a bore 25 extending horizontally therethrough for registration with a bore 26 in the lug 2| to receive the fastening wire of a seal 21 I of theusual type, as shown in Figure 1.

From the above description and disclosure in the'drawings, it is believed that the operation of my device will be obvious, but it might be mentioned that when it is desired to open the door 13, the latch arm I9 is released from its keeper 22, then the chain 4 is removed from its container 2 and applied to the shank of the lever 9 which is swung on its pivot in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3, to draw the door to its open position of that figure, it being apparent that it is necessary from time to time to adjust the chain relative to the shank during the opening process. It

will be further obvious that the door is closed in the same manner, but the lever 8 and chain 3 are used for that purpose, the lever 8 being moved in the direction of the arrow of Figure 3 for drawing the door to its closed position.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for closing a door mounted for horizontal sliding movement, comprising a housing mounted adjacent the door opening, a chain adapted to be received by said housing and having one end secured therein and passing out through the opening, a pivot mounted on the door in horizontal alignment with the housing, a lever mounted on said pivot having a shortangular arm adapted to enter the links of the chain, a sleeve mounted'on the pivot beyond the lever and provided with an integral laterally extending latch at its outer end, and a keeper carried by the outer face of the housing and adapted to receive the latch when the door is moved in closed position by the operation of the lever.

2. A device for closing a door mounted for horizontal sliding movement, comprising a housing mounted adjacent the door opening, a chain adapted to be received by said housing and having one end secured therein passing out through an opening, a pivot mounted on the door in horizontal alignment with the housing, a lever mounted on said pivot having a short angular arm adapted to enter the links of the chain, a sleeve mounted on the pivot beyond the lever and provided with an integral laterally extending latch at its outer end, a keeper carried by the outer face of the housing and adapted to receive the latch when the door is moved in closed position by the operation of the lever, and a pivoted guard member carried by the housing and adapted to normally close the upper open end of the keeper.

HOMER C. LANCTOT. 

